Loulou

Today we are remembering our beautiful girlie Loulou who we lost last year.  Miss her so much. 

Loulou 28-03-2000 - 18-01-2015

Rip Baby. 

A – Z Challenge. L is for Loulou

Loulou was our Dalmatian. We lost her on the 18^th of January. She was 14 years, 9 months old and it was her time. She was tired and she was done.

This is our last photo of her, a week before she died.

She was born on the 27^th of March 2000 along with her brother Alfie. 

 

She lived with her Mum, her brother and little Sandy. They had the best life and were all very much loved. 

All 4 of them liked to play in the Bluebell Woods but this shows Alfie and Loulou.  We are waiting for the blubells to come out as we are going here to scatter the ashes of all 4 of them.

Loulou full of life

As is the way of things, one by one they all became old and one after the other we lost them. Loulou was the last. She died very peacefully at home with us right there with her. We have been lucky as all 4 of them have died at home.

I still miss each and every one of them so much. It never gets any easier. People who have never had a dog as a part of their family will never understand that.

"D" is for Dog.

Day 4 of the A- Z challenge means that today it is “D”  I am going to continue with the theme of blessings. 

“D” is for Dogs. Dogs are my passion. I have loved dogs my entire life. My Mum used to say that even as a tiny tot in my pushchair I would reach out for any that were nearby.

I was never allowed a dog as a child as my parents weren't really doggie people, although my Dad did come to love Alfie and Loulou in the last few years of his life.

My Mum used to say “when you have your own home you can have as many dogs as you like”. We have had 6 so far. At one time we had 4 together. Currently we just have one.

In the last 3 years I have been able to take my passion one step further by doing volunteer work for Three Counties Dog Rescue. I now regard myself as having over 70 dogs. Every one, of our small band of volunteers at Three Counties, treat the dogs just as we do our own. We love every single one of them. I just wish they could all find loving homes. Sadly as one goes out to a home another little soul comes in.

Here are some photos of the 6 doggie blessings that I have been privileged to have in my life.

Buick.

Sandy.

Rosie.

Alfie.

Loulou.

Beanie.

Jilly

Photo 365 - 12

It's been an incredibly busy day again so it is just a  quick shot of Loulou for today.

This is our girlie.

Photo 365 - 5

Not the best day today.  We spent a few hours at the doggie rescue kennels this morning and made the discovery that quite a lot of the dogs had wet bedding.   Everyone was incredibly upset.  Three Counties do not own the kennels.  It is a private boarding kennel. This should have been noticed. Three Counties do supply the bedding for them to use for the rescue dogs.  We are incredibly short of bedding right now so I have spent most of this afternoon appealing to anybody I possibly can for quilts and blankets.

It was even more upsetting coming home to Loulou who has a warm house and clean dry bedding. So wish that we could do more. Today's photo (which was taken today despite it appearing to be a Christmas shot!) is of Loulou opening the last one of  her Christmas presents.

Someone asked the other day about the tumour on her ear.  It has been this size for over a year.  It is not operable at her age.  It is not growing and it does not bother her in anyway.

Photo 365 - 3

We have had a fairly lazy day at home today.  We did go out this afternoon as we had to go and collect Alfie's ashes. Not something we were looking forward to although I am pleased to have him back.  We are both incredibly sad and upset all over again.

This evening has been equally lazy.  Simon has been catching up on school work ready for the new term next week and I had a good old chinwag with my cousin Wendy.  We are now relaxing with Loulou.  I can't get used to the idea of it being just the three of us now.

Please note that Simon is in his tatty garage clothes!

Where is my bloggin mojo?

Just had a look at my poor neglected blog. Last time I was here was back in August and prior to that May! There once was a time when I never missed a day. I seem to have lost my blogging mojo.  I started a blog for my Fabrilushus shop a while back and that has ground to a halt too. There just never seems to be enough hours in the day.  I have even got very lax in reading blogs so I am totally out of the loop.  I miss my friends.  I see FB posts but that simply isn't the same.

Not much has changed here apart from the season!  How can we be in autumn already? As seems to be the norm in the UK, we had a pretty measly summer.  It wasn't as wet as last year but we didn't have that many sunny weeks and it wasn't ever what I call hot.  Feeling pretty miserable right now at the thought of the long winter months ahead.

We are all doing ok.  I have been a bit worried about Simon, he is tired and gets headaches and yesterday had a pain in his eyeball all day.  A sharp pain.  This is his good eye too and he wouldn't do anything about it!  Don't suppose I had mentioned here that he lost most of the sight in one of his eyes back in the summer?  He has a central retinal occlusion. It was pretty worrying for a while as they though he had a stroke.  That eye is getting better slowly.

The rest of the family are all ok. Our big news is we have our 6th grandchild on the way. Saskia is expecting her first baby in March.  It is very exciting.

Alfie and Loulou are both still with us, although Alfie has bladder cancer and Loulou's tumor is growing. I worry about them all the time but they are pain free and happy so we are enjoying whatever time we have left.

I am busy doing all the usual stuff.  I also look after Jessie 2 days a week.  Once the housework is taken care of I spend quite a lot of time making things to sell at Fabrilushus.  Sales are very slow but they are coming.  The rest of my time is spent doing stuff for the dog rescue.  Both Simon and I are more and more involved there which is great as it is something we do together. It has also had the added benefit that we have made some very good friends.  We love each and every one of the dogs and spend many hours playing and grooming and just generally teaching them about love.

I would like to get back into my blog.  I always used it as a sort of online journal of my life and I am so annoyed that this year there are great chunks missing.  SO, I am going to try and do a daily photo to get back in the swing of things.  I figure a photo won't take too much time to do.  We shall see how it goes.

Wishing you all a happy Autumn.

Monday morning.

Monday morning and all is crap! Here is an example of why I am busy. It is just part of the reason.

I have spent the last couple of hours cleaning the kitchen floor. I got up to a blood bath. Alfie's got bad arthritis and keeps falling. When he gets up he drags his paws and he has scrapped a couple of claws to the quick. Simon obviously didn't notice when he let them out this morning. I have stopped the bleeding for now.  

I am going to see if I can get him a little boot.  We used to have one years ago when Rosie cut her foot badly. I am a bit concerned about blood getting on my cream bedroom carpet!  The kitchen floor is at least easily cleanable.  

Unfortunately just noticed that Loulou’s ear is weeping and bleeding. Saw the marks on the kitchen cupboards! You may recall she has a very large tumour? I have bathed it in salt water and am just having coffee before sorting out anything else!

Both babies are currently fast asleep. Breaks my heart too see them old and not in the best of health.

Onwards and upwards.  Lots of housework today. We had a big family BBQ yesterday for Simon’s birthday and I still have some stuff to put away.  Then hopefully it will be sewing time. Provided of course that nothing else occurs!